(Post originally seen in this post by ramblin_phyl. I have been notified that it was originally posted by suricattus in her journal post. The story and words are hers, but I do believe that it needs to go viral and that as many people as possible need to get their stories out there. Only by making a noise about this can we make a change in our society.)

There is a move afoot in the nation -driven by the GOP - to repeal the new health care laws, to protect corporate interests, to defend against fear-mongering (and stupid) cries of "socialism!", and to ensure that people are forced to choose between keeping a roof over their heads or getting necessary health care.

This movement is killing people.

Think I'm overstating the fact?

Ask the friends and family of writer/reviewer Melissa Mia Hall, who died of a heart attack last week because she was so terrified of medical bills, she didn't go see a doctor who could have saved her life.

From another writer friend: One person. Not the only one. That could have been me. Yeah, I have access to insurance -- I live in New York City, which is freelancer-friendly, and have access to freelancer advocacy groups. Through them, I can pay over $400/month ($5,760/year) as a single, healthy woman, so that if I go to the hospital I'm not driven to bankruptcy. But a doctor's appointment - a routine physical - can still cost me several hundred dollars each visit. So unless something's terribly wrong? I won't go.

My husband worked for the government for 30 years. We have government employee (retired) insurance. It is the only thing of value he took away from that job. His pension is pitiful. He still works part time. My writing income has diminished drastically. Our combined income is now less than what it was before T retired fifteen years ago. Inflation has diminished it further. In the last 30 days I have racked up over $8000 in medical bills for tests and the beginning of treatment. Our co-pay is 20% after the deductible. And there is more to come. Our savings are already gone. I have the gold standard of insurance and I still can't pay all the medical bills.

Another friend lost her insurance when her husband lost his job. She couldn't afford medication and ended up bed ridden for three months at the end of over a year of no job and therefore no insurance until he found work again.

It's our responsibility. All of us, together. As a nation.

EtA: Nobody is trying to put insurance companies out of business. They will always be able to offer a better plan for a premium. We simply want to ensure that every citizen - from infant to senior citizen - doesn't have to choose between medical care, and keeping a roof over their heads, or having enough to eat.

We're trying to get this to go viral. Pass it along.

If anyone wants to tell their story, please tell it on your own journal and post a link in the comments. Maybe, just maybe, TPTB will listen to the slaves peons who clean their toilets before they have to clean their own.

Still floating around here, although a certain John William Johnson has contacted me and informed me that he has been publishing under the name of J. W. Johnson for twenty-five years and he will take whatever action he deems necessary to protect his name. I'm not sure how I am going to handle this news. Personally, I am not egotistical enough to think that I am the only person on the planet that goes by that name. From black poets early in the last century, to songwriters and photographers and artist's, there are several people using that name. I believe there is even someone in the porno business from all the x-rated spam I get. Luckily for him (I guess) my writing skills are not polished enough for him to have anything to be worried about and I'm not sure about how I feel about trying to publish under a name that people wont recognize who I am. Writing in a different genre from what he does may be enough of a difference to seperate us, but I dont know. 'Guess I'll let the publishing company figure it out.

It really doen't matter what name a work is published under. What matters is the work. I promised one lady reader on my blog that she would love my book one day (sorry your comment got lost when I got hacked). It wasn't a vain promise that she would love my writing, it was a promise that the book would be written. Whether it's under this name or some other, I cant tell you. In the mean time I'm going to keep writing and keep polishing until it gets published.

My favorite part "Still, today, I woke up in a world where my healthcare funding won't be terminated because of lifetime coverage limitations, or because I am too sick. I woke up in a world where I can change jobs without sentencing myself to death from the disqualifying pre-existing condition of metastatic colon cancer. I woke up in a world where a major liberal-progressive idea has gained a significant foothold.

And that idea will benefit every American, even those who willfully misunderstand it, and hate it with a screaming passion. That's what good political ideas are all about. Benefiting everyone."

I refrain as much as I can from going political on everyone, but... WE have to do something about the health care system. It is broken. Unfortunately the government we put in charge to do the things for us that we can't do ourselves, can't come to an agreement on how to fix it. Personally I don't think it's going to be possible to reach an agreement on what is right or what is wrong. I am thinking they just need to pass something and let the pieces sort out as they may. In other words, do something and if it doesn't work, fix it. I'm not talking eight years from now either. That's a cop out. Insurance companies are raising rates more than thirty percent in some states when they are already posting billion, yes I said billion, dollar profits. Dont think it can't happen to you. Wait until you get the notice your rates are going up thirty percent for no reason and tell me how it feels. In a quote from e_moon60 "The bottom line is that what we have now is not working except for the people who profit from it: the health insurance companies and their Congressional cronies, for the most part."

What can we do personally you ask? Contact your congressman and tell him we are not taking no for an answer. Tell him, or her, that they either get it together and do it, or else. You would not believe the power we have if we pull together. Write your congressman and tell them they either get it done or they are out. I'll even provide you a link

There are so many reviews out on Avatar that I see no need to add my own except to say what an amazing achievement and movie it is. I can honestly say it's the best movie I have ever seen. Being a science-fiction kind of guy, it was right up my alley. I couldn't help but fall in love with the beautiful world of Pandora and I honestly cared about what happened to the characters.

It just amazes me at some of the negative reviews I have heard about it. Have we become so cynical a society that we cannot take a simple story and enjoy it? I've heard the term "it's been done before" but I hate to tell you they have All been done before. Have you never heard: "Every story worth telling has already been told in the bible"? Well, I have. It's just how they are presented is what is different and James Cameron has done an incredible job of presenting his while throwing in a high idea or two about conservation and humanity. If you don't like his simple story, you surely won't like mine, but that's not going to keep me from writing it. If I were to have 1/1000th's of the success he has had and make a story half as good I would be happy.

So, go see it. Enjoy the beautiful 3d cinematography. Root for the good guy. Hate the bad guy. Enjoy the love story. Go be entertained. That's what it's all about anyway.

I want to take the time to thank Livejournal and all the people who have let me befriend them and have befriended me back (or not). The stories and advice I get to read on here are what they call "priceless". Getting to read what so many professionals in the buisness have to say on an everyday basis is both entertaining and informative. Thanks guys (and girls).

I couldn't keep Apex's attention either. That's two slush-reader's/ editor's (?) who lost interest somewhere in my story. I don't know if it's the story or the writing that's lagging. It's tough not knowing what to do about it. Most of the feedback I have gotten has been from friends and family and you know what that's like. There are not any writers groups in my area that I know of that I would feel comfortable with presenting the subject matter of this story to unfortunately. I don't spend enough time on any of the online workshops to feel like I deserve their help either, if you know what I mean.

Anybody out there have any feelings about Writers of the Future one way or the other? If they could do for me what American Idol did for David Cook it would be amazing. I know winning is a long shot, but if you do win it's a full week of working with some real professionals. The money wouldn't suck either.